Six sided pool table with center pocket



Jan. 13,1970 w. F. PORATVH ETAL 3,489,409

SIX SIDED POOL TABLE WITH CENTER POCKET Filed May 15,. 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 13, 1970 w PORATH ET AL 3,489,409

SIX SIDED POOL TABLE WITH CENTER POCKET 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 13, 1966 Jan. 13, 1970 w. F. PORATH ET AL 09 SIX SIDED POOL TABLE WITH'CENTER POCKET Filed May 13, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 f g5- J5 A 1! mm af mw United States Patent 3,489,409 SIX SIDED POOL TABLE WITH CENTER POCKET William F. Poratlr, P.0. Box 91, Gillett, Wis. 54124, and Milton A. O. Porath, Rte. 1, Suring, Wis. 54174 Filed May 13, 1966, Ser. No. 549,962 Int. 'Cl. A63d 15/04 US. Cl. 2735 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pool game table with a playing surface and a cushion rail assembly carried by the frame of the table. The cushion rail assembly has six equal and inwardly facing straight resilient cushions defining with said playing surface six equal triangular sectors extending from the center of the playing surface to the cushions. A pocket is centrally located in at least one of the triangular sectors of the playing surface substantially midway between the center of the playing surface and the cushion of that sector. A bracing and leg structure underneath the frame includes a plurality of angularly spaced brace members in abutting relation at a central axis, a plurality of angularly spaced legs in abutting relation at the central axis, and a bolt extending along the central axis for securing them together.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved pool game table and, also, one which can be alternately utilized as a pool table or as a card table or the like.

Briefly, the pool game table of this invention includes a frame and preferably has legs supporting the frame. A cushion rail assembly is carried by the frame and, in accordance with the preferred form of this invention, it has six equal and inwardly facing straight resilient cushions, and a playing surface is also carried by the frame Within and below the cushion rail assembly. The playing surface in conjunction with the cushion rail assembly define six equal triangular sectors extending from the center of the playing surface to the inwardly facing straight resilient cushions of the cushion rail assembly. A pocket is centrally located in at least one of the triangular sectors of the playing surface substantially midway between the center of the playing surface and the inwardly facing straight resilient cushion of that sector for receiving pool balls played on the playing surface within the cushion rail assembly.

Various numbers of pockets may be utilized. In one arrangement, a pocket is located in only one of the sectors and, here, a spot is preferably centrally located in the triangular sector opposite the sector having the pocket, the spot being arranged substantially midway between the center of the playing surface and the inwardly facing straight resilient cushion of that sector for racking pool balls in that sector. In another arrangement, the playing surface has two pockets located therein, one on each of opposite sectors of the playing surface, and, here, spots are preferably located at adjacent boundaries of the other pairs of sectors for racking pool balls thereat. The cushion rail assembly may also be provided with reference spots substantially midway of each straight resilient cushion thereof to facilitate calculations for playing pool on the game table.

The angular relationships between the six inwardly facing straight resilient cushions and the positional relationships between the pocket or pockets and spots and the cushions are such that many pool shots made on conventional pool tables, including banked shots, may be made 3,489,409 Patented Jan. 13, 1970 in substantially the same way on the preferred form of the game table of this invention. By reason of these relationships, the majority of the banked shots are played off the cushions nearer their center portions rather than close to the corners, thereby providing smaller angles and longer ball travel from cushion to cushion. As a result, the balls travel back and forth across the table rather than erratic around the table ball travel. Also, there is a wide variety of distances from the pocket or pockets to the cushions and of directions and angles to provide a wide variety of shots as on conventional pool tables.

The side of the frame is preferably provided with an outwardly opening pool ball collecting trough and a chute conveys pool balls from the pocket in the playing surface to the ball collecting trough. The cushion rail assembly is removably secured to the frame so that it may be removed from the frame to provide a game table having a flat top surface for playing other games, such as cards or the like. The pocket in the playing surface may be suitably covered when it is desired to play such other games on the game table. Alternatively, a flat cover may be applied over the cushion rail assembly to provide a flat top surface for playing such other games on the table.

Preferably, the cushion rail assembly, playing surface and frame are hexagonal in configuration and an outwardly facing drink box may be secured to the underside of the frame adjacent each corner thereof, the drink boxes forming convenient places for setting drinks while utilizing the game table either as a pool table or a card table or the like. The game table is also provided with a unique bracing and leg structure for sturdily supporting the game table and for providing ready leveling thereof.

In this latter respect, the bracing and leg structure includes a plurality of angularly spaced brace members extending inwardly and downwardly from points adjacent the periphery of the frame to a central axis below the frame, said brace members being in substantially abutting relation at said central axis. It also includes a plurality of angularly spaced legs extending outwardly and downwardly from said central axis below the frame to points below alternate ones of the brace members. The legs are half in number of the bracing members and they are secured to alternate ones of the brace members and they are also in substantially abutting relation at the central axis. The bracing members and the legs are suitably secured to the frame, as by screws for securing the outer ends of the brace members adjacent the periphery of the frame, and by a bolt extending along the central aixs for securing the inner ends of the brace members and legs to the center of the frame.

This bracing and leg structure is particularly adaptable for game tables, it providing a firm and rigid support for the frame and playing surface which extends from the center of the table radially outwardly. As a result, the frame can be made relatively thin Without danger of distortion or warping and the necessity for deep box like frames which are outwardly provided with legs and which are currently used in pool game tables or the like is eliminated. Since the firmly and rigidly supported frame is relatively thin and since the bracing members and legs extend radially outwardly from the center of the table, there is adequate room under the table readily to accommodate the legs of persons seated around the table when playing cards or the like on the table. Also, the outer ends of the legs are located within the confines of the frame of the table to provide for adequate toe room for persons walking around the table when playing pool or the like thereon.

The bracing and leg structure of this invention is suitable for game tables of substantially any configuration, as for example, circular, oval, rectangular or square, the

bracing members and legs extending radially outwardly from the center of the table toward the periphery of the table. Any desired numbers of bracing members and legs may be utilized to form a rigid support for the frame and playing surface. For example, in the case of a circular or oval table eight bracing members and four legs may be used, and in the case of a square or rectangular table, such as a six pocket pool table, eight bracing members extending towards the four sides and the four corners of the table and four legs extending toward the four corners of the table may be used. In the preferred form of this invention where a hexagonal frame is utilized, six bracing members extending toward the corners and three legs secured to alternate ones of the bracing members are used.

Further objects of this invention reside in the details of construction of the game table and in the cooperative relationships between the component parts thereof.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be come apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification, claims and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the game table of this invention looking from above the game table and showing the cushion rail assembly in place on the table;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the cushion rail assembly removed so that the game table may be utilized as a card table or the like;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 but showing the cushion rail assembly and the playing surface removed so that the interior construction of the frame may be seen;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the game table of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 but looking from below the game table to show more clearly the construction of the bracing and leg Structure;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating a modification of the preferred form of the game table of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the game table illustrated in FIG. 1 with portions of the cushion rail assembly and portions of the playing surface and frame omitted to show the relationships between the cushion rail assembly, the playing surface and the construction of the frame;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the game table as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6;

FIG. 9 is a partial enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially along the line 1010 of FIG, 6;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially along the line 1111 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially along the line 1212 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13. is an exploded partial view of the bracing and leg structure illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a portion of the leg structure illustrated in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13.

The game table of the preferred embodiment of this invention is generally designated at 10. It includes a frame 11 which may be of any desired configuration but which is illustrated as a hexagonal frame, a bracing and leg structure 12 and a removable cushion rail assembly 13, the cushion rail assembly being shown in place in FIG. 1 and removed in FIG. 2.

While the frame 11 may be in the form of a single piece plate or the like, the preferred construction of the frame is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7. The frame includes six sides 15 which are suitably secured, as by glue, at their bottom edges to a hexagonal base member 16. A hexagonal border member 17 is secured, as by glue, to the top edges of the sides 15 and it is reinforced by reinforcing members 18 suitably secured thereto and to the sides 15 by glue or the like. A plurality of reinforcing struts 19 extend from the center of the table to the corners of the frame, they being suitably secured together by glue blocks 20 and secured to the corners where the sides 15 meet by glue blocks 21. These struts 19 are also preferably secured to the base member 16. In this way, a rigid frame is provided for supporting the playing surface of the game table of thisinvention, the frame being relatively thin, i.e.,very little depth. A pair of fastener guide blocks 22 are suitably secured, as by glue, to each of three sides 15 of the frame for the purpose of removably securing in place the cushion rail assembly. Also fastener guide blocks 23 are suitably secured, as by glue, to the struts 19 to provide means for fastening the playing surface to the frame.

The bracing and leg structure 12, which supports the preferred hexagonal frame 11 of this invention, includes six brace members 25 which extend from points adjacent to the corners of the frame 11 to the center of the frame 11. This bracing and leg structure 12 also includes three legs 26 which extend from points below alternate corners of the frame to the center of the frame. Each of these legs 26 is a laminate construction including two outer layers overlying their associated bracing members 25 and a filler member 27 of the same thickness as the bracing member 25 which extends from the line 28 to the lower ends of the legs. The outer layers of the legs 26 are suitably secured, as by glue or the like, to the associated bracing member 25 and filler member 27 to form an integral construction. The inner ends of the legs, as illustrated in FIGS. 11, 13 and 14, are provided with notches 29 for receiving adjacent bracing members 25 so that when the bracing members 25 and legs 26 are all brought together at the center of the table along a vertical center line they closely fit together in a nested arrangement as illustrated in FIG. 11. A stud or bolt 30 extends vertically along the vertical center line of the table and is secured at its upper end to a metal washer 31 which is sunk into the upper surface of the base member 16 of the frame. A plurality of washers 32 extend into recesses in the legs 26 and a nut 33 threaded on the stud or bolt 30 operates to securely hold the inner ends of the bracing members 25 and legs 26 together and to the center of the base member 16 of the frame 11.

Six drink boxes which are adapted to hold drinks placed therein during use of the game table are secured, as by glue or the like, to the outer ends of the brace members 25, these drink boxes 35 being arranged under the corners of the hexagonal frame 11. Screws 37 extending through glue blocks 36 in the drink boxes into the bottom member 16 secure the drink boxes 35 and the outer ends of the bracing members 25 to the bottom member 16 of the frame 11 adjacent to the corners of the frame. The bottom and outer ends of the three legs 26 are each provided with a leveling device 38 so that the game table may be readily leveled for use.

A playing surface 40 which is of hexagonal configuration where the frame 11 is hexagonal as illustrated herein fits upon the struts 19 of the frame within the border members 17 and is substantially fiush with the border members. The playing surface 40 may be secured to the struts 19 by the guide blocks 23. The playing surface. 40 may be formed of any suitable material upon which pool may be played, as for example, slate or the like, and the upper side of the playing surface 40 may be provided with the usual felt or the like which is normally utilized for the playing surface on a pool table.

The removable cushion rail assembly 13 preferably. includes six straight mitered members 43 suitably secured together to form a hexagonal assembly and as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the six members 42 are provided with six equal and inwardly facing straight resilient cushions 43 which are secured to backing members 44. The resilient cushions 43 and their backing members 44 are secured to the members 42 of the cushion rail assembly 13 by screws 45 as illustrated in FIG. 10. The resilient cushions 43 are arranged above the playing surface 40 and face inwardly toward the center of the playing surface.

As expressed above, the cushion rail assembly is removably carried by the frame 11 and towards this end three sides of the cushion rail assembly are recessed and provided with downwardly facing nuts 47 (FIG. 9) held in place by screws or the like. Bolts 48 extend through holes 52 in the blocks 22 and holes 53 in the border members 17 and are adapted to be screwed into the nuts 47 for removably securing the cushion rail assembly 13 in place on the table. The lower end of the bolts 48 are provided with wings 49 received in enlarged holes 50 in the base member 16 for rotating the bolt 58 for securing and releasing the cushion rail assembly 13. Snap rings 51 are carried by the bolts'48 to prevent them from dropping out of the blocks 22 when the cushion rail assembly is released.

The cushion rail assembly 13 in cooperation with the playing surface 40 define sixequa'l triangular sectors extending from the center of the playing surface to the inwardly facing straight resilient cushions 43. In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 a pocket 55 is centrally located in one of these sectors of the playing surface substantially midway between the center of the playing surface and the inwardly facing straight resilient cushion 43 of that sector for receiving pool balls 61 played on the playing surface 40 within the hexagonal cushion rail assembly 13'. A side of the frame, which is preferably the side containing the sector which has the pocket 55, is provided with an outwardly opening pool ball collecting trough 57 and a chute 58 extending from beneath the pocket 55 operates to convey pool balls from the pocket 55 in the playing surface to the ball collecting trough 57', thereby providing an automatic return for the pool balls.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein a single pocket SS is provided in one sector of the playing surface, a spot 56 is centrally located in the triangular sector of the playing surface opposite the sector having the pocket 55 therein and this spot 56 is also preferably arranged substantially midway between the center of the playing surface and the inwardly facing straight resilient cushion of that sector for racking pool balls 61 in that sector as illustrated in FIG. 6. The cushion rail assembly 13 is preferably provided with reference spots 60 substantially midway of each straight resilient cushion 43 thereof to facilitate calculations of the angles in playing pool on the game table. The unusual and beneficial results flowing from the angular relationships between the six inwardly facing straight'resilient cushions 43 and the positional relationships between the pocket 55 and spot 56 and the cushions 43 are set forth above and need not be repeated here.

In the other form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5, two pockets 55 are provided in the playing surface instead of one as in the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1. Here, the pockets 55 are arranged in opposite sectors of the playing surface and each pocket is arranged substantially midway between the center of the playing surface and the inwardly facing straight resilient cushion 43 of the sector in which that pocket is located. Here, two spots for racking the balls are preferably used and these spots are located at the adjacent boundaries of the other pairs of sectors. The beneficial results which flow from the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 are also obtained by this form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5 and, accordingly, a further description is not considered necessary.

When the cushion rail assembly 13 is removed from the game table so as to use the game table as a card table or the like, the pocket 55 may be covered with a suitable cover (not shown) so as to prevent dropping of cards or other articles into the pocket 55. Alternatively, as expressed above, a flat cover may be applied over the cushion rail assembly to provide a flat top surface for playing cards or the like. The drink boxes are conveniently available for receiving drinks set therein regardless of whether the game table is set up for playing pool or for playing cards or the like. The pocket 55 is made somewhat larger than the pool balls 61 so that when a pool ball is played into the pocket 55, it rapidly disappears therein so as not to obstruct another pool ball from closely following and dropping into the pocket.

As expressed above, the bracing and leg structure of this invention may be utilized for game tables having configurations other than hexagonal and such is also in the purview of this invention. The new and useful advantages flowing from this invention have been considered above and need not be repeated here.

While for purposes of illustration, two preferred forms of this invention have been disclosed, other forms of this invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to this disclosure and, therefore, this invention should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A pool game table comprising a frame, a playing surface on said frame, a cushion rail assembly carried by said frame above said playing surface and having six equal and inwardly facing straight resilient cushions defining with said playing surface six equal triangular sectors extending from the center of said playing surface to said inwardly facing straight resilient cushions of said cushion rail assembly, and a pocket centrally located in at least one of said triangular sectors of the playing surface substantially midway between the sides of that sector and between the center of the playing surface and the inwardly facing straight resilient cushion of that sector for receiving pool balls played on the playing surface within the cushion rail assembly.

2. A pool game table as defined in claim 1 wherein a pocket is located in only one of said triangular sectors, and wherein a spot is centrally located in the triangular sector of the playing surface opposite said one sector having said pocket located therein and arranged substantially midway between the s ides of that sector and between the center of the playing surface and the inwardly facing straight resilient cushion of that sector for racking pool balls in that sector.

3. A pool game table as defined in claim 1 wherein said playing surface has two pockets located therein, one in each of opposite sectors of the playing surface, and wherein spots are located at the adjacent boundaries of the other pairs of sectors for racking pool balls thereat.

4. A pool game table as defined in claim 1 wherein said cushion rail assembly is provided with reference spots substantially midway of each inwardly facing straight resilient cushion thereof to facilitate calculations for playing pool on said pool game table.

2. A pool game table as defined in claim 1 wherein the side of the frame is provided with an outwardly opening pool ball collecting trough, and a chute for conveying pool balls from the pocket in the playing surface to the ball collecting trough.

6. A pool game table as defined in claim 1 including supporting legs for supporting said frame in elevated position. I

7. A pool game table as defined in claim 6 including a fiat cover applied over said cushion rail assembly to provide a game table having a flat top surface for playing other games.

8. A pool game table as defined in claim 6 wherein said cushion rail assembly is removably secured to said frame so that it may be removed from said frame to provide a game table having a flat top surface for playing other games.

9. A pool game table as defined in claim 6 wherein said frame and said playing surface and said cushion rail assembly carried by said frame are hexagonal.

10. A pool game table as defined in claim 9 wherein an outwardly facing drink box is secured to the underside of the frame adjacent each corner thereof.

11. A pool game table as defined in claim 9 wherein a brace member extends inwardly from adjacent each corner of the frame to a central axis below the frame, and Wherein the supporting legs are three in number and extend outwardly and downwardly from said central axis below the frame to points below alternate corners of the frame, and means for securing said brace members and supporting legs to said frame.

12. A pool game table as defined in claim 11 wherein the outer and bottom ends of said legs are provided with leveling means.

8 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 296,677 4/1884 Chasley 2738 735,995 8/ 1903 Mumford 273-5 848,042 3/ 1907 Musgrave 273148 1,122,588 12/1914 Graft 273-4 1,158,793 11/1915 Drovot 273-8 1,273,237 7/1918 Lee 2735 1,925,692 9/1933 Goerner 273-3 2,199,745 5/ 1940 Harris 273136 RICHARD C. PI'NKHAM, Primary Examiner THOMAS ZACK, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

108ll, 28, 50; 2736, 9, l2 

